ST. JOHNSBURY — A cost-saving measure by the state means the Caledonia County State’s Attorney is going to have to wait until at least February to hire a new deputy.

State’s Attorney Lisa Warren had wanted to hire a replacement for former deputy prosecutor Ben Luna as soon as possible, but the state’s money-saving measure means she and another deputy will be sharing the workload.

Warren said the so-called “vacancy savings” requirement prohibits her from hiring Luna’s replacement for 10 weeks, but she got it reduced to six weeks by arguing that her office has important cases and upcoming trials that can’t wait.